Vacuum cleaner dolly



-2 1952 A. J. w. FONTAINE 2,607,945

I VACUUM CLEANER DOLLY Filed ma 26, 1949 28 INVENTQR A1. Wu J. Mi'ozvmmw ATTOR Ys .venient transportation same relative position of parts a Y t i I'Fig.v 4 is afront elevation of the carrier; and

at an angle,

' upper ends by Patented Aug. 26, 1952 v 1 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i 9,607,945 VACUUM CLEANER DOLLY v Alvin J. Fontaine, North Wilbraham, Mass I Application May 26, 1949, Serial'No. 95,510

5 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in carrier or dolly structures for use with a tank type household vacuum cleaner. The present application is .related to my co-pending application Serial No. 31,725, filed June 8, 1948, for Vacuum Cleaner Dolly, now abandoned, and has for an object an improved construction of the unit as disclosed therein.

, In general the object of the invention is to provide a serviceable and compact wheeled unit for the carriage of the cylindrical tankof this type of cleaner when in use and for its conor storage when not in use. Provision is also made for the ready and convenient storage and accessibility of the various fixtures and attachments commonly used with the tank. V I

The advantages of the new construction over prior art devices of this character will be readily appreciated from the following disclosure in connection with the accompanying drawings, in

which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the framework of the carrier with its parts-arranged in operative position;

, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the carrier with va tankmounted thereon in storage position of the carrier parts;

LFig. 3'is a side elevation of the carrier in the as in Fig. l;

Figsj5 and 6 are plan and. end views respec- .tively of a modified carrier construction 'show- "ing means for retaining a tank thereon.

"Referring to the drawings, the cylindrical tank supporting structure comprises .a framework supportedby'two" rear wheels, I and a sir'igle front wheel 2 of the caster type for swlvelling action at the front of the carrier. The bottom of the frame is formed as a, platformtray 3 having shallow walls 4 and a rear hood 5 extending upwardly from the rear, wallA, and, forwardly At opposite sides of the front part of trays parallel rearwardly and upwardly inclined side members 6 are attached at their lower ends asat I to walls 4. The members 6 are joined ,attheir a horizontal handle. fportion integral with the members 6 and this portion is encased by a cylindrical handle-g'ripB asshown.

The side members are supported ir'i the 7 iriclined position by rear braces 9 attached on each side of the tray at the rear'of the same. The braces extend substantially in vertical position and are fastened to the members 6 by wingnut and bolt attachments as at H1. The wing nut assembly provides for easily dismantling the side frame structure as for shipment. Members 6 and 9 are disconnected. and the partsswung downwardly to lie substantially fiat on the tray.

Approximately midway of the lower portion of member 6 between the attachment points I and Hi and in the lower section of the frame is pivotally mounted as at 12, a cradle for support of-the vacuum cleaner tank. The cradle is mounted adjacent its forward end, and comprises a U-shaped metal strap'with a front end l3 and sides 14, the latter being pivotally joined at l2 to said side members. Between'the sides M are joined as by welding two cross straps i5 and IS on which a tank may be supported as will be described. As shown by Figs. 1 and 2 inwardly directed pegs I! are fixed on braces 9 in the path of sides l4 and when the cradle is pivoted to horizontal position in the frame the pegs support it in said horizontal or operative position.

For holding the cradle pivoted in a rearwardly inclined position parallel to said side members a support in the form of a spring latch means is provided on a side 6 near the rear'offthe adjacent side l4. As shown by Figs. 1 and 4a bracket I8 is mounted on the outside of member 6. A slide i9 movably guided in aligned openings of the member and bracket is spring pressed inwardly to register with and engage the adjacent side I4 of the cradle in a latch opening 20. Thus the cradle may be releasably held in the position shown by Fig. 2. This position (Fig. 2) is best suited for transportation and storage of the tank on the carrier.

Means for releasably retaining'a cylindrical tank on the cradle is shown by Figs. 1 and 2. The usual tank is commonly supported on runners 2! '(Fig. 2) which are offset along its underside. A'ta'nk may then be'releasably held with its runners secured by clamps =22 fixed on the cross straps l5 and 16. Each clam 22 has two'spaced bolts 23 projecting through slots '24 inthe straps. The outer bolt is fixed to hold the enables the inwardly facing upturned lip of the clamps to be drawn downwardly by knobs 25 on the runners 2|. The opposite slots 24 of each strap I 5 or l6 are elongated for adjustment of the spacing between clamps to accommodate tanks having differently spaced runner mountmgs.

Certain tank type cleaners are not furnished with runners 2| in which event a different arrangement may be provided as shown by Figs. 5 and 6.

Cross bars 26 welded to opposite sides of the carrier are connected by longitudinal struts 28.

Flexiblebelt straps with buckles. 30 are looped under the struts28-and over the top of the tank so as to secure the same tightly on the cradle. This is clearly shown by Fig. 6.

In use a tank is securely fixed to the cradle which is then pivoted to horizontal position. -A suction hose is attached to the front of the tank in the usual manner and the operator pulls the entire unit wherever desired for cleaning opera tions. The front caster wheel provides an easy swivel action for steering the unit in any direc of the front end f3 of the cradle.- are fixed pins 3| '0VerWhiCh-the front ends ofextension members'32 are-placed. Bracket clips 33% on the. rear strap l'6 at. each end thereof are provided-so that the extensions 32' may be snapped into storage position at each side-of the cradle (Figs. 1 and-,2)-

The hose 34 when not in use is stored by looping the same lengthwise around the tank on the cradle. A finger piece 35-on aside member 6 overlies the edge of the cradle when the cradle is in parallel relation with the side members. One

end portion of thehose is tucked under the finger piece as in Fig. 2, the hose Wound around: the tank with its opposite end portion being extended over the finger piece, and this end portion is inserted underthe hose on the other side of said finger piece 35..

t It will be noted that the larger rear wheels I wiltperinit the. relatively easy transportation of the carrier upand' downstairs and as, a unit with all cleaner accessories remaining together. The

attachments in the tray 3. are prevented from falling out by hood 5 the event the unit is tipped. In the position of storage or transportation (Fig. 2.) the. entire unit can be placed handily in. a. closet or elsewhere while keeping all the parts together and. available for instant use.

Having described. my inventionI. claim:

1. A dolly carrier for use with a tank type vacuum cleaner comprising, a cradle movable from. a: horizontal operative. position to an upwardly and rearward-1y inclined storage and transporting; position, .-means for semi-permanently securingv a vacuum tank to the cradle, a: wheeledframe structure pivotally mountingthe cradle adjacent the forward. end of the cradle and in the-lower section of. said framev and having an accessory supporting body adjacent the base of the frame, and supportson the frame to releasablyretain. the cradle in. either ofv said positions.

'2. A; doilycarrirer for use with; a tyn '4 vacuum cleaner comprising, a cradle movable from a horizontal operative position to an upwardly and rearwardly inclined storage and transportin position, means for semi-permanently securing a vacuum tank in the cradle, a wheeled frame structure including a rearwardly inclined pair of side members and vertically disposed rear braces supporting the same, said cradle being pivotally mounted adjacent its forward end between said members and in the lower section of said frame, said frame having an accessory supporting body adjacent the base of the frame, and supports on the frame to releasably retain thecradleineither of saidipositions.

3 A dolly carrier for use with'atank type vacuum cleaner comprising, a cradle movable from a horizontal operative position to an upwardly and rearwardly inclined storage and transporting position, said cradle having cross pieces provided with slotted portions and clamps mounted in said portions for securing a vacuum tank. on. said cradle, a wheeled frame structure including a rearwardly inclined pair of side members and vertically disposed rear braces supporting the same, said cradle being pivotally mounted adjacentits'forward end between said members and in the lower section of said frame, said frame having. a platform tray at the bottom of the frame, latching means on a side member engageable with said cradle to hold the cradle in said storage position, and inwardly directed supporting pegs on said rear bracesto support the rear portion of said cradle when thelatter is pivoted horizontally tov itsoperative position.

4:. A dolly carrier for use with a tank type vacuum cleaner comprising, a cradle movable from a horizontal operative'position to an upwardly and rearwardly inclined storageand transporting position, releasable securing means for retaining a vacuum tank onsaid cradle, a wheel frame structure including rearwardly inclined parallel side members joined at their upper'ends by an integral handle portion and at their lower ends mounted on opposite sides of the forward end of said frame, and vertical braces fixed to said members and mounted at the rearof said frame for supporting the members, saidcradle adjacent its forward end beingpivoted between said members in the lower sectionof' said frame, a walled tray constructionat the bottom of the frame, a spring latch on a side member for engagement with the cradle to hold the cradle in the said storage position and parallel to said members, and inwardly directed supporting pegs on sa d rear braces to support the rear portion of said cradle when the latter is pivoted horizontally to its operative position. I

5. A dolly carrier for use with a tank type vacuum. cleaner comprising, afframe structure hav ng front and, rear ground wheels for support e e and including. a p r offside, members atendm from the front portion of thenframe upwardly and rearwardly. and. overlying said rear wheels, and. substantially vertical rear braces. extendin upw rdly. fromthe. rear of the. frame and attached tosaid sidemember atpoint. vertically disposed over said rear wheels, a cradle pivotally held adjacent the. forward end; thereofbetween said side members below vth ;='.ui:, per. endsof said braces. and. extending in. a-.horizontal operatire position; rearwardly of. Saidrear braces; andlocated. in said positionsubstantially midwaybetween the top and bottomof, said bracesthe center'ofgravity f said crad rearwardly? of Sam? mwtal; hmentzto the side: members, and

5 forwardly of the braces, means on the frame to REFERENCES CITED retain said cradle in said horizontal position, said The following references are of record in the cradle being pivotally movable to an upwardly file of this pad-Jam; and rearwardly inclined storage position lying parallel with said side members, releasable 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS means for maintaining said cradle in storage po- Number Name Date sition, and means for semi-permanently securing 1,431,862 Allebrand Oct. 10, 1922 a vacuum tank to the cradle, said frame having --1,449,l31 Skarstad Mar. 20, 1923 an accessory supporting body adjacent the base 1,832,523 Berger Nov. 17, 1931 thereof. 10 2,141,881 Schray Dec. 27, 1938 v 2,177,153 Ross Oct. 24, 1939 ALVIN J. W. FONTAINE. 

